Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 5

Author(s): Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication

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Congregation consisting of Sādhus ery Saints 2 Sādhvis erat Nuns 3 Srāvakas pa Jain lay men, and 4 Śrāvikās ar Jain females-sat on the jewelled throne with a footstool, in the middle of the Samavasaraṇa with his face directed towards the East. Devout gods arranged three images of the Bhagavān in the three remaining directions. Gods, human beings, and lower animals, entered by the main door, and occupied their appropriate seats. The Indra, then, bowing down most respectfully and praising him with his two folded hands brought in front of his fore-head, sat reverentially. Sramaņa Bhagayān Mahāvīra preached Dharma as follows:
This Sarñsāra is formidable like a turbulent ocean and its chief cause is the Karma, like the seed of a tree. A man becoming indiscrete by his own actions, degrades himself, like an individual digging a well, and a pure-hearted person always rises high, like a man building a palace. One should never practise destruction of life, as it is source of evil Karmas. One should always be ready in the protection of the life of other living beings to the same extent as he would in the protection of his own life One desirous of abstaining from injury to other individuals, as well as to himself, should avoid an Untruth and should always speak the Truth. People tell lies out of anger, pride, deceit, greed, fear, and out of derision. By putting a stop to the generative causes of telling lies, the virtuous quality of speaking nothing but the Truth, will naturally manifest itself Truth will always be preserved by speaking only true, salutary, measured, and wholesome language. None should ever take any substance not given by its possessor, as it is capable of taking away the principle of life from him, because stealing away such an object from him, results in his death. Coition, which causes the death ot small animalcules during the process, should not be indulged in. Wise-men desirous of 17 Moksha-Final Emancipation, should always remain chaste, bodily, mentally, and in speech. One should not accumulate property which is the cause of many evil actions; because such